The Real Story Behind ‘Sweet Caroline’ at Red Sox Games

Anyone who visits Fenway Park for a Boston Red Sox games knows the point when the park will be filled with the sounds of Neil Diamond's classic song "Sweet Caroline." But how did that come to be?

"I am the reason they play 'Sweet Caroline' at Red Sox games," Caroline Fitzpatrick said.

Her father, Billy Fitzpatrick, worked for the Boston Red Sox for 20 years, from 1984 through 2004, as the scoreboard operator.

How ‘Sweet Caroline’ First Reached Fenway Park

"Caroline was born on December 10, 1998. She came into the world an ordinary little baby," Billy said.

Returning to Fenway as a new father, Billy was met by the Red Sox Public Address announcer, Ed Brickley.

"Ed Brickley said 'Hey, how's Caroline doing?' ‘Oh, good, Ed,’" Billy said.

The Fenway Staffers Who Helped Create a Tradition

The attention was then directed towards Amy Tobey, Musical Director for the Sox from 1997-2004. "Ed just turned to Amy and said, 'Hey, could you play 'Sweet Caroline' for Billy's little girl?'" Billy said.

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Playing the classic tune inside Fenway was not unheard of; Tobey had occasionally played the Neil Diamond hit, but there was something about that summer night in 1999 when the song took off.

However, there was a stipulation: the song would only be played late in the game when the Red Sox were winning and the crowd was electric.

Why the Song Became a Red Sox Staple

In 2002, Dr. Charles Steinberg joined the organization as the Executive Vice President and felt there was something special there. "This song may have transformative powers. It may be able to take a melancholy crowd and lift its spirits," he said.

Sure enough, he was right.

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"It was so cool to see how the local piece of folklore took on legs and went international,” Caroline said.

Former outfielder and Red Sox Hall of Famer Johnny Damon called it "legendary."

How ‘Sweet Caroline’ Became a Global Fenway Tradition

So whether it was Billy Fitzpatrick and his wife's name selection, Ed Brickley's request to play the song, Amy Tobey having it in rotation, or Charles Steinberg's push to play even when the Sox were down, Red Sox Nation will feel "so good, so good, so good" in the middle of the eighth inning each and every home game for years to come.